RUMFORD – Nearly 40 temporarily laid-off paper mill employees will return to work at MeadWestvaco Corp. over the next few weeks, the company said.

A paper machine that was shut down in January because of poor market conditions will resume operations early next month, according to Steve Hudson, a company spokesman.

MeadWestvaco has laid off more than 100 hourly workers and about 30 salaried employees this year. About two-thirds of those cuts were called temporary when they occurred.

Some employees who were laid off temporarily have already been told their jobs will again be available, and most have accepted, according to the company.

Laid-off employees who have the most seniority are being called back to work first, Hudson said.

He said the company’s sales have improved, and some workers who were laid off permanently could eventually be called back, depending upon market conditions.